When you’re considering SEO for your business, it’s important to note that it’s not a cookie-cutter approach. Many business owners make the mistake of thinking it’s a case of “doing SEO” without thinking about how, or indeed if, it will benefit them.
Before you jump in, hire a pro or are all gun-ho and do it yourself, let’s think about some key things first.
How does your ideal client find you?
How do people stumble upon your awesome business? Through search engines or swiping on TikTok and Instagram? SEO can drive organic traffic and boost your brand visibility, but for certain niches and businesses, tapping into the vibrant world of social media might yield quicker results. Remember SEO is a slow burn and can take months to gain traction, but whoa man will it pay off in the long run.
What is the age of your business?
If your business is fresh, the online world might not know you yet which give you a challenge – creating an online identity from scratch. While SEO is a long-term strategy (see below) to establish this digital presence, a combination of targeted paid ads can jumpstart your visibility, offering an initial push into the digital arena. Now, I am no fan of paid ads for a number of reasons, so an alternative would be building an engaged online community. Platforms like Facebook Groups, LinkedIn communities, or even offline meetups can be gold mines for young businesses. Engage with your audience, share your journey, and invite them to be part of your brand’s growth. Authentic connections often lead to loyal customers, and word-of-mouth referrals can be far more powerful than any ad campaign.
Are willing to create or spend money on content?
Creating captivating content is an art and science. If you’re considering enriching your site with blog posts, videos, or infographics, SEO can amplify its reach. But remember, like all good things, quality content needs investment. When you invest in content, you’re not just filling space on your website. Quality content, when optimised for search engines, increases your online visibility, drives organic traffic, and boosts engagement. It’s a symbiotic relationship where your content attracts visitors and SEO ensures it’s found.
Are you willing to invest in your SEO?
At its core, SEO is an tangle of technical know-how, content quality, user experience, and continuous optimisation. It’s not just about inserting keywords into content; it’s about building a holistic, user-centric online presence that search engines deem authoritative and trustworthy. While tempting, “cheap SEO” often employs generic or outdated techniques that may offer short-lived gains but risk long-term penalties from search engines.
Instead of viewing SEO as another expense, consider it a foundational investment for your online presence. Skimping might save immediate costs, but it could jeopardise future growth and brand reputation in the expansive digital landscape. Well-executed SEO can lead to increased organic traffic, better user engagement, and enhanced brand visibility – all contributing to long-term growth and money in your pocket.
Are you patient enough for SEO?
It’s like planting a tree: you sow the seed, nurture it, and over time, you’re rewarded with growth. This growth, however, isn’t immediate. It’s nurtured through consistent effort, strategy adjustments, and understanding the ever-evolving search engine algorithms. SEO is multifaceted. From optimising website structures and improving user experience to crafting high-quality content and building backlinks, each aspect contributes to your website’s authority and ranking.
As search engines crawl and index these changes, they gradually recognise the enhancements, leading to better rankings. This recognition process takes time. While we all want those quick results, it’s key to keep your impatience in check with SEO – I’m no good at the patience side of SEO. Typically, visible improvements in rankings and organic traffic can take anywhere from 3-6 months, sometimes even longer, depending on your industry’s competitiveness and your website’s starting position.
While SEO demands patience, it doesn’t mean a passive approach. It involves active monitoring, analysing performance metrics, and refining strategies. It’s about laying solid foundations for long-term digital success, complemented by other marketing strategies for short-term gains.
As we wrap up our SEO deep dive, there’s a golden nugget to keep close to heart: your loyal customers. While the allure of new faces is always tempting, remember the ones who’ve been with you since the early chapters. These trusted fans, already in sync with your brand’s rhythm, often present golden opportunities for repeat sales. Before sprinting towards new horizons, consider setting up a seamless system to cater to and delight them once more. Because, often, the secret to stellar ROI isn’t in the first sale to a new customer, but the encore performance for a loyal fan. Value them, and they’ll amplify your brand’s song.
